Foldable antenna structure



Nov. 17, 1970 1-1. RIEBSAMEN FOLDABLE ANTENNA STRUCTURE Fhi1ed Dec. 5. 1967 INVENTOR, HENRY RIEBSAMEN.

71A im United States Patent O U.S. Cl. 343--882 4 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE The invention herein relates broadly to a foldable antenna structure and specifically to a novel locking hinged joint that supports the antenna arm or element when in extended use and that permits folding of the element to a position along the imast. The hinge is of tubular configuration which cooperates with a spring loaded antenna element to maintain it in fixed position when in use and :further to allow the element to be folded along the side of the mast. The joint of the invention also provides a secure, direct and effective electrically conductive path for the transmission of RF energy.

The invention described herein may be manufactured, used, and licensed by or for the Government for governmental purposes lwithout the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION may be shipped to a field in a folded condition where it l can be readily erected for immediate use.

A limited number of antenna assemblies having foldable antenna, reflector and other components have recently appeared on the market, some of them having detent means for maintaining the components in their proper extended position. Such antenna assemblies, however, employ anchoring bolts which must be passed through aligned holes to maintain the detent means locked, such detent means functioning only as a temporary locking and holding means which are effective only until the locking means supersedes them. In such structures the mountings for both the pivotal connections and the detent means must be designed especially for each angle involved. The connections for a 90 positioning of the parts will not serve for any angle other than 90.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is designed to overcome the above noted limitations that are common in the use of conventional antenna structures supplied in kit form for erection in the field. Toward the end it contemplates the provision of a foldable, preassembled package type antenna unit which is entirely devoid of extraneous hardware and in which the several components when folded assume positions of substantial parallelism wherein they consume little space relative to their overall extended position.

A further object of the invention is to provide an antenna structure in which each foldable component is provided with its individual pivot connection.

Another object of the invention is to provide a foldable antenna structure in which the antenna elements are self locking to the boom or mast in a simple unitary locking joint.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a locking joint for the antenna elements which is effective ice to maintain them in extended operative position and not be accidently upset by the force of wind.

Other objects include the provision of a foldable antenna structure which is extremely simple in construction,

is composed of relatively few parts over and above the` normal structure components, one which is rugged and durable to withstand rough usage, one that is capable of manual release for dismantling and one that lends itself readily for u'se in antenna structures of relatively large size, that is having a mast height of up to 60 feet and antenna elements extending to overall lengths of up to 30 feet.

The above objectives and other features and advantages inherent to the invention herein are accomplished by the new and novel joint adapted for securing, hinging and folding tubular antenna elements to a mast wherein said hinge is of tubular configuration and wherein there is provided a spring loaded antenna element having an elongated slot which provides the sliding travel of the antenna element which homes and engages securely with the mating hinge half in open extended position.

BRI-EF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention, not at this time enumerated, will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description, read in view of the drawing in which:

FIG. l is a front elevational view, and partly broken away, of an antenna structure embodying the principles of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of a folded antenna element showing another use of the invention herein.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the drawings, reference is made to FIG. l in which there are shown four antenna elements and a portion of the mast of an antenna structure or assembly. The rnast of the antenna assembly is shown as 10 and to which are affixed at opposite diametric position the novel locking and supporting hinges of the present invention. Each of the several antenna elements are held by a hinge which are all similar in construction, accordingly only one such hinge is described in detail. The hinge is of two piece construction, one portion designated as 12 serving as a receptive portion of the locking hinge. The portion 12 is of tubular conguration and permanently affixed to the mast. The unsecured end of the housing portion 12 includes a semiecircular opening formed by the termination of the portion 12 in a tapered shelf 13. Dependent from the housing 12 and integrally a part thereof is a wedge shaped portion 14, provided at its unsecured end, as shown, with a pivot pin 18. The pivotal portion of the locking hinge is in the form of a tubular collar 16 provided with a pair of opposing spaced dependent lugs having openings therein which engage with the pivot pin 18 to pivot thereabout. The underside of the collar 16 is partially cut away to provide a clearance area for the tab-like end of the portion 14 as the collar 16 is being pivoted. Fixed within the collar 16 is a pin 24 which is positioned transverse to the longitudinal axis of the collar and which serves as one of the anchor means for a spring 26, more fully described hereinafter.

One of the antenna elements is shown as 20. The antenna 20 is tubular wherein the end of the antenna element that is engaged within the locking hinge terminates in a tapered portion 21 so angulated as to positively engage the tapered angle shelf 13 of the fixed housing portion 12. Conned within the antenna 20 is a spiral spring 26, one end of which is secured to the pin 24 within the collar 1'6 and its other end to a pin 22 which is rigidly aixed within the antenna 20 and diametrically positioned therein and parallel with the pin 24. The longitudinal sweep or movement of the antenna 20 is permitted by a longitudinal slot 28 formed in the side walls of the antenna. The length of the slot 28 is such, that the antenna when pulled outwardly will have sufficient clearance to be beyond the edge of the semi-circular portion of the housing 12.

FIG. 2 shows the use of the novel locking hinge within an antenna element per se. Such use can be made in instances where the antenna element is quite long and it is desired to have the antenna folded in more than one stage where the confining space for storage and the like may be a factor.

What is claimed is:

1. In a folding antenna structure, a combined support and folding means for an antenna element of said structure, said means comprising a first fixed portion and a second pivotable portion, said fixed portion comprising a tubular shank portion and a dependent tapered shelf like ledge at its free end and a pivot means therein, said second portion comprising a tubular collar including spaced parallel dependent lugs that engage said pivot means of the xed portion to pivot thereabout, and an antenna element slidably engageable in said tubular collar and having one end completely confined within said collar and partially confined within said fixed portion when in operative position, said last mentioned end being tapered to contact the tapered ledge of said fixed portion to provide a direct through electrical contact, and means CTI between said antenna element and said collar to normally urge said antenna element into engagement with said xed portion.

2. A structure of the kind set forth in claim 1 wherein the means for urging the antenna element into said fixed portion comprises a spring secured at one end within said collar and its other end secured within said antenna element.

3. A structure of the kind set forth in claim 2 wherein said antenna element includes a means for limiting the path of travel of said antenna element.

4. A structure of the kind set forth in claim 3 wherein the limit travel means of said antenna element comprises an elongated slot in the wall of said antenna element.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,714,698 5/1929 Stoll 287-99 1,772,096 8/ 1930 Diamond 287-99 2,398,357 4/1946 Campbell 343-880 X 2,484,406 11/ 1949 Gibson 287-99 X 2,706,608 4/1955 Joseph 343-882 X HERMAN KARL SAALBACH, Primary Examiner T. VEZEAU, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 287-99; 343-915 

